DILI, 17 august 2021 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno informed that those Timorese students who have stayed past their passport expiration date in foreign countries would have to renew their passport in Timor-Leste.
“Regarding those Timorese students who are living in the foreign countries with an expired passport, you have to return to Timor-Leste for the renewal of your passport,” Magno told reporters, at MNEC’s office, in Dili, Today.
She explained that based on Government Decreed Law No: 44/2008 it was written that the right to issue and print Passports was the Ministry of Justice of Timor-Leste.
“We cannot process and renew your passport overseas it is prohibited by the decree-law No 44/2008,” she said.
Magno realized that this pandemic has been made everything difficult including air transportation.
However, Magno said, MNEC has written a verbal letter to all Timor-Leste’s embassies abroad to cooperate with the local government to handle the students with passports that have been expired.
“There are 2 efforts that have been made, the first is coordinated with the Ministry of Justice and Timor-Leste diplomats abroad if necessary to collect the passports from the students to renew in Timor-Leste, the second is MNEC was a verbal letter from MNEC addressed to the local government to give concessions to students whose passports have been expired, “Magno explained.
Magno said several countries including the Philippines and Indonesia were agreed that the students with the invalid passport are allowed to stay until December.
“I have coordinated with our diplomats overseas to handle this issue, students are willing to return to Timor-Leste for the renewal of their passport however under covid-19 restriction there is no flight operation,” she said.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
